Partick Thistle boss Archibald relieved to emerge victorious against Motherwell
Alan Archibald admitted his relief after Partick Thistle staved off a second-half comeback against Motherwell to collect three vital Ladbrokes Premiership points.
Thistle were three up inside 28 minutes thanks to goals from Blair Spittal, Ryan Edwards and Conor Sammon but Motherwell threatened to ruin Archibald's 40th birthday after netting through Ryan Bowman and substitute Craig Tanner after the interval.
The Jags held on for a 3-2 win, though, to cut the deficit at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership to one point.
Archibald said: "We said at half-time it was a great first half but we knew what was coming - Motherwell did the same up at Ross County a few weeks ago.
"We were well warned with it, but you could see we hadn't won many games this year. We dropped deep and there was a bit of fear there. I'm just glad we rode it out and got three points.''
Sammon netted his first goal for the club while Miles Storey impressed up front but Archibald had special praise for recent signing Martin Woods.
"You saw the difference Martin Woods made,'' Archibald said. He was outstanding, first half, tired in the second half, but that bit of experience and leadership was outstanding.
"The front two were a real handful, first half, and caused Motherwell a lot of problems. We just couldn't get them any service in the second half.''
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson bemoaned the concession of three first-half goals in the space of 12 minutes. Goalkeeper Russell Griffiths initially went the wrong way for Spittal's free-kick, Charles Dunne failed to cut out a ball forward before the second and Carl McHugh was caught in possession before Sammon struck.
"We gave them too much,'' Robinson said. "When you make the individual errors we did in the first half, then you will lose matches - simple.
"The boys who came on did well and the forward players did OK but the first goal we gave away was ridiculous. All three goals were individual errors.
"It's hard to prepare for that. But we showed good character to come back, I have to credit the boys, especially the boys who came on, but you can't give teams a three-goal start.''